Archive for July 26, 2014

Andy Panda has severe arthritis in his hips. When Andy first came to us, we immediately noticed his sagging back end. After a minute of so of standing upright, the photo above shows what happened. We started him on high doses of glucosamine/chondroitin (750mg/600mg) twice a day along with a homeopathic pain killer, Traumeel, twice a day. Mild exercise was also ordered to help him stay supple. After a month, we are pleased to say that Andy’s back end isn’t so saggy anymore! He’s still not able to stand for long periods, but he’s clearly more comfortable and can move about easier. Yesterday morning, Andy was feeling so good that he was bouncing around the bedroom in play! We are continuing to investigate what else can be done for his condition, but the initial treatment results are promising.

Old Man Stone is getting old and showing his age. He’s got stenosis and has been having accidental bowel movements, especially when he’s eating. He’s lost weight, and sometimes his back end “sags.” We tried the Depo-Medrol injection last month and it has helped a little. Some dogs are more responsive to the steroid injection than others. Most pain medications don’t do much for the nerve pain that is associated with stenosis, but we are trying some options.

Senior Andy Panda came to us with horrible, rotting teeth and bleeding gums. He was in pain, could not eat and was feeling rather rotten himself. Anesthesia, especially for an older greyhound, is always risky, and we ran an organ function panel and a CBC to help us assess his risk level. By some miracle, his blood work was normal and his heart murmur was mild. So, we made the decision to clean his teeth and extract the rotten ones. Two of his premolars were just hanging on and actually fell out before the cleaning began. Two others were extracted and all of his teeth were cleaned and polished.

Andy is doing much better now and is eating like a horse! He’s gained some weight, is more active and has a better outlook on life.

Dental disease, even mild tartar buildup, can lead to lots of other health issues. We have long advocated for daily brushing and good oral care. Some greyhounds are prone to dental issues, even with good care, and end up needing surgery and extractions no matter how vigilant their owners are. Many problems, however, can be avoided with a toothbrush and canine toothpaste or CET Oral Hygiene Gel.

Meet Andy Panda! He’s not a retired racing greyhound, but an old man in need of a place to spend his remaining years. He was found as a stray in Cleveland. The Cuyahoga County Dog Pound contacted us to see if there was anything we could do and when we met him, we knew we had to take him in. He’s about 10-12 years old and has a long list of medical issues, some of which are treatable and some of which are not. Andy’s been here about a month now, and had a full dental and lost four rotting teeth, been treated for a sheath infection and we are in the process of trying to help him with his severe arthritis and possible stenosis. Andy is a sweet boy who is mostly greyhound with a coonhound bark. Here he is, leaving the dog pound. His nails were woefully overgrown, but we’ve got them back to a manageable length, thanks in part to the wonderful vet techs that ground them down during his dental surgery.

Jilly Bean has been through a lot in the past month or so. On June 10th and 11th, she underwent 2 injections of immiticide for heartworms and spent both days at the vet hospital for observation. Luckily, she was fine and we’re hopeful that all the heartworms have died. We still need to keep her calm and quiet until mid-August, to help prevent dead clumps of heartworms from moving into her lungs or blocking her heart. Jilly seems content with her restricted activity and is a little shy and reserved by nature. Her story has touched so many people and recently, she received a very special present from a very special family – a “jelly bean” patterned bandana just for her!

Being in the middle of wine country has its advantages. We are often invited to bring the greyhounds out to various wineries for meet and greets. Here, Momma Levity is soaking up some sun on her comfy blanket, listening to the mellow music in the background.